The United States is a nation facing a profound and fundamental decision - Who are we going to be? The greatest threat to America's enduring legacy of self-determination, self-reliance, and personal responsibility is the people themselves. The crux of our democratic republic is an active, informed, and responsible citizenry. "Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." - Wendell Phillips

Monday, May 21, 2012

Suppression by Equality

“We
hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created
equal...” - Thomas
Jefferson

This
epic line of the Declaration of Independence is one of the most
quoted, and I believe misinterpreted lines ever written. Our
founding fathers were a highly intelligent and forward-looking group.
They clearly understood that no two things in nature are
equal nor do they have an equal chance. Everyone and everything is
unique and the value each contributes to the world differs. This
foundational belief of our nation defines America as a place where
one's destiny is the culmination of their beliefs, natural talents,
and decisions, combined with the effort the individual is willing to
put forth. It is the promised land where one is able to realize
their full potential, free of the bonds of governmental repression.
At least it used to be. This is a nation where a person's station in
life is not determined by how they come into this world, but by how
they chose to live their life. This does not; however, mean that the
natural inequalities that exist between all people do not exist here.
While our Constitution removes barriers imposed by mankind, even
this mighty document pales in comparison to the irresistible force of
nature.

“Always
bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important
than any other.” -Abraham Lincoln

I believe
that everyone is endowed with some special gift, an ability or
aptitude at which they naturally excel, but not all talents are
equally valued by our society. Some attain great fortune and
recognition by cultivating their gift, others do not. Some are the
recipients of great support and receive multiple opportunities to
showcase their skill set, others do not. Just because some are lucky
enough to be blessed with advantages, does not mean they will
prosper, nor is it something for which they should be disparaged.
Advantage does not guarantee success, nor does it condemn those not
privy to it to a life of misery and obscurity. It simply means that
the ascent to prominence requires more effort from some than from
others. Life is not always fair and when government is enlisted to
try and make it so, there are many unforeseen consequences and the
ultimate price is the sacrifice of our freedom and liberty. Success
is not given, it is not owed, it must still be earned. In order to
be free to succeed, we must also be free to fail. For true success
is exploring the extent of our potential, and this is not possible
without the prospect of failure.

“Government,
even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state,
an intolerable one.” - Thomas Paine

There
is a growing sentiment in our society that it is the duty of
government to nullify life's inherent inequalities. To those that
view this as good intentioned, remember the road to hell is paved
with good intentions. It is not possible to elevate everyone to
excellence, as the behavior and attitude necessary to attain
excellence are the product of personal commitment. Since government
has no measure available to them to generate this. their chosen
strategy is to restrain, vilify, and diminish the value and rewards
of achievement. This path leads away from the liberty of democracy
and down the dark tunnel to the equality of mediocrity and misery
desired by socialism. We will not all succeed, that is a fact, but
we must not sacrifice our natural right to realize our fullest
potential so that others may not feel the sting of failure. As
Marianne Williamson so eloquently wrote, “Your
playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened
about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.”
Success
is something to be celebrated and revered because failure is always a
very real possibility. Beating the odds and rising triumphant is the
stuff of legends. The reality of failure by some does not justify
denying the many their chance to excel. We are the land of
opportunity and we must not sacrifice this wondrous gift because of
those who refuse to take a chance or simply fail to measure up. Our
nation is the envy of the world and the undying dream of so many
because this is the place where a person's actions determine their
fate, it is not dictated to them by an obstructionist and repressive
government. We lived under this once, and we defied all the odds to
cast it off. To revert back in the name of some poorly conceived
notion of equality is foolishness of the highest order and an
unforgivable insult to those that bestowed this blessing upon us.

“I
believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the
people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by
violent and sudden usurpations.”- James Madison

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